-Congrats to the West Virginia Mountaineers on winning their first NIT championship since 1942. They shot the lights out in a 78-73 victory over the Clemson Tigers tonight at Madison Square Garden- going an efficient 12-for-20 from downtown. They were led by senior forward Frank Young, who finished his college career in style by scoring a game high 24 points including six treys. He averaged better than 22 points during the NIT to garner Most Oustanding Player honors. His superb play helped shoot down the Tigers in a close first half. With his club up by two, Young began a 12-2 run to close the half with two three’s. They would go into the locker room up 12. Clemson got it down to single digits in the second half but never fully recovered. For Wva, De’Sean Butler chipped in with 20 while Darris Nichols added 13 and nine assists.

John Beilein’s Mountaineers finished the season 27-9. Though they weren’t good enough to qualify for the NCAA 65 field, they continued to execute the coach’s Princeton offense to perfection using perfect backdoors and solid backcuts to knock down open three’s. If you’ve watched his teams from the past few years, then you know how difficult it is for opponents to defend and also explains why they went pretty deep in the previous two NCAA tourneys (2005-Elite 8, 2006-Sweet 16).

That’s why it’s ashame that they didn’t have at least one more win or a good enough schedule to make the Big Dance once again. You have to believe had they got in, nobody would’ve wanted any part of them. They certainly would’ve been a much tougher out than Arkansas, George Washington or freaking Stanford. But it wasn’t meant to be. Of course, it does point out how difficult the decisions are for the committee every year. It’s impossible to get every one right.

Either way, West Virginia didn’t let it affect them in what was an ultracompetitive NIT which also featured Syracuse, Oklahoma State, N.C. State, Kansas State, Air Force, Drexel and Mississippi State.

The way these kids competed speaks to the high amount of pride they had and also tells you that the NIT (especially getting the chance to play in NYC) isn’t just some secondary tournament. It gives them a unique opportunity to play in the postseason and play under the spotlight. For some it means extending their careers. For others, it means getting valuable postseason experience which can benefit them longterm.

Kudos to everyone involved for making a difference!

-Guillermo Canas has beaten Roger Federer twice more in a month than Andy Roddick or most ATP top 10 players aside from Rafael Nadal. Maybe there is a way to agitate the world’s best player. By staying in long rallies and winning the mental battle. Something Canas and Nadal have been able to do unlike so many other foes. But if you saw how Federer lost that third set tiebreak the other day in which coincidentally he dropped both sets in tiebreaks which never happens, then you know that his Argentine opponent got to him. How else could you explain a routine forehand way long and a mistimed overhead into the net? Canas recently returned to the tour after a 15-month hiatus away due to violating doping policies. Before his suspension, he was a top 20 player who was dangerous and could beat almost anyone. After posting another impressive win over a quality opponent in Tommy Robredo Thursday down in Miami, it’s obvious that he’s back. While he’s a solid baseliner who’s had success on hard courts against Federer, his best surface is clay which means he could be a factor at this year’s French Open. Keep a close eye on him.

-If you had the pleasure of watching the NCAA 3-point and dunk contests, it was very entertaining as usual. And in the three-point contest, Purdue’s Katie Gearlds edged out Oregon’s Aaron Brooks 17-16 by making the final two three’s from the corner including the money ball. In the dunk contest, Georgia Tech’s Mario West pulled off a between the legs windmill jam to upset Michigan’s Brent Petway. Solid coverage by ESPN though we don’t need to see media-ho Erin Andrews interviewing these players after every freaking round.

-When everyone is talking about the Mets and Phillies for the NL East like it’s some foregone two-horse race, you know who our sleeper is? The Braves. More than either team, they upgraded their bullpen significantly by picking up Rafael Soriano from Seattle and Mike Gonzalez from Pittsburgh while re-upping vet closer Bob Wickman. If last year’s pen didn’t blow so many games late, the Braves would’ve been right there. Figure John Smoltz to have a big season in his walk-year. Tim Hudson will need to bounceback. If there are questions with the rotation, that no longer should be the case with the pen which should bolster their chances. The offense still will be led by the Jones boys (Andruw and Chipper) along with emerging stars Jeff Francoeur and Brian McCann. With Edgar Renteria setting the table, Atlanta should be able to manufacture runs.

-So Kenny Rogers is starting the year on the DL due to a tired arm. And we’re left pondering if the crafty southpaw didn’t use enough sandpaper during the Spring?!?!?!?!?!

-When former President Bill Clinton still has much better support than wife Hillary, it might not be encouraging news for her 2008 campaign chances.

-Did anyone else laugh at President George W. Bush’s comedy routine poking fun of his approval rating and Vice President Cheney last year during the Radio and TV Correspondents’ Association dinner the other night? We still could’ve done without Karl Rove impersonating a rapper. There are some things that politicians just shouldn’t try.

-Sports movies seem to be the trend these days. A top 25 list was compiled yesterday. It’s interesting to say the least. No argument on Rocky being ranked No.1 but we’re wondering how they put Bull Durham ahead of Hoosiers, The Natural and Field of Dreams. Sure, Bull Durham is comical and there are some good aspects but it’s not better than the other three. How A League Of Their Own is so low (24th) makes no sense at all. That was a pretty darn good sports flick and deserves to be much higher. Even Slapshot outside the top 10 seems a little on the low side. What’s hard is that you can’t pick every movie to make the cut. But we could definitely see some others in there like Mighty Ducks I or Seabiscuit. I guess it all depends on preference making for a great debate.